Shoulder pitch and arm adjustment for power box awning

ABSTRACT

An awning mounted on a wall surface includes a rack, a canopy, a plurality of arms and a shoulder. The shoulder is configured to connect at least one proximal end of the arms to the rack and includes a bracket portion and a junction portion. The bracket portion includes a first curved surface. The junction portion includes a second curved surface shaped to correspond to the first curved surface. The first curved surface includes one of an elongate bead or a set of grooves. The second curved surface includes the other of the elongate bead or the set of grooves. The elongate bead is configured to fit within at least two of the grooves thereby allowing the junction portion to assume at least two orientations with respect to the bracket portion the junction portion is movably adjustable around a first axis.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to awnings and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for extending, retracting and stowing awnings.

BACKGROUND

Awnings often include a mechanism by way of which they can be extended to provide a shelter and refracted after usage. After an awning is retracted, it is desirable to arrange the variety of components that make up the awning, such as the canopy, the roller, the motor, the support arms or the like, in a compact manner in order prevent the awning from interfering with operations of the structure on which the awning is mounted and for purposes of aesthetics. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism that enables compact stowing of an awning.

SUMMARY

In one example aspect, an awning is mounted on a wall surface and includes a rack, a canopy, a plurality of arms, and a shoulder. The plurality of arms is configured to support the canopy. Each of the arms includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of each of the arms is configured to move to and from the rack so as to retract and extend the canopy. The shoulder is configured to connect at least one of the proximal ends of the arms to the rack. The shoulder includes a bracket portion and a junction portion. The bracket portion includes a first curved surface. The junction portion includes a second curved surface shaped to correspond to the first curved surface. The first curved surface includes one of an elongate bead or a set of grooves. The second curved surface includes the other of the elongate bead or the set of grooves. The elongate bead is configured to fit within at least two of the grooves thereby allowing the junction portion to assume at least two orientations with respect to the bracket portion such that the junction portion is movably adjustable around a first axis.

In one example of the example aspect, the first curved surface is a cylindrical concave surface and the second curved surface is a cylindrical convex surface.

In another example of the example aspect, the shoulder further includes a fastening component configured to secure the junction portion against the bracket portion so as to maintain the junction portion in the at least two orientations.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the junction portion includes a recess opposite the second curved surface, and the fastening component is perimetrically dimensioned so to be at least partially insertable inside the recess.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the recess is substantially semi-cylindrical in shape, and the fastening component is perimetrically rectangular.

In yet another example of the example aspect, a set of first holes extends through the fastening component. A set of second holes extends through the junction portion. A set of first screws is configured to extend through the first holes and the second holes and into the bracket portion.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the set of second holes has an elongate cross-section and is oriented to extend transversely with respect to the elongate bead. The first screws are insertable along any part of the second holes.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the junction portion is capable of changing orientation around the first axis upon loosening of the first screws.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the shoulder is configured such that the bracket portion is rotatably adjustable about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

In yet another example aspect, the shoulder further includes a base portion on which the bracket portion is movably mounted, and the base portion is configured to support the bracket portion from underneath.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the bracket portion includes a third hole with a circular cross-section and a fourth hole with an elongate cross-section extending through the bracket portion. A set of second screws is configured to be inserted through the third hole and the fourth hole and into the base portion thereby securing the bracket portion about the base portion, the second axis extending through a center of the third hole.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the base portion includes an adjustment hole threaded to accommodate an adjustment screw which is configured to control a degree to which the bracket portion is rotatably adjusted around the second axis.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the junction portion includes a hinge at a longitudinal end located opposite the third hole, and the arm is rotatable around a third axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the rack includes a channel in which the arm corresponding to the shoulder can be stowed, and the arm extends substantially parallel to the first axis in a stowed position of the awning.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the arm is bendable at an intermediate portion so as to bring the awning to the stowed position.

In yet another example of the example aspect, the shoulder is configured to be affixed at various positions along the rack.

In another example aspect, an awning is mounted on a wall surface and includes a rack, a canopy, a plurality of arms and a shoulder. The plurality of arms is configured to support the canopy. Each of the arms includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of each of the arms is configured to move to and from the rack so as to retract and extend the canopy. A shoulder is configured to connect at least one of the proximal ends of the arms to the rack. The shoulder includes a base portion and a bracket portion supported from underneath by the base portion. The bracket portion is rotatably adjustable with respect to the base portion about a second axis extending perpendicularly about a plane of interface of the bracket portion and the base portion.

In one example of the another example aspect, the base portion includes an adjustment hole threaded to accommodate an adjustment screw which is configured to control a degree to which the bracket portion is rotatably adjusted around the second axis.

In another example of the another example aspect, the bracket portion includes a third hole with a circular cross-section and a fourth hole with an elongate cross-section extending through the bracket portion. A set of second screws is configured to be inserted through the third hole and the fourth hole and into the base portion thereby securing the bracket portion about the base portion. The second axis extends through a center of the third hole. The bracket portion is rotatably adjustable about the base portion upon loosening of the second screws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects are better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of an awning that is mounted on an example structure with a wall surface and includes a plurality of arms in partially extended positions;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of an example embodiment of a shoulder with which a proximal end of an arm is connected to a rack of the awning;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the shoulder in an isolated state;

FIG. 4 shows a top perspective view of the shoulder;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom perspective view of the shoulder;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the shoulder;

FIG. 7A shows a rear view of a junction portion and a fastening component;

FIG. 7B shows a front view of the junction portion and the fastening component; and

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the awning in a fully retracted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which example embodiments are shown. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. However, aspects may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example embodiment of an awning 10 is mounted on an example structure 100 providing a wall surface 102. In this embodiment, the structure 100 is shown as a truck-type, recreational vehicle but the awning 10 can also be mounted on other vehicular structures such as a mobile home, a trailer, a bus, a boat, a ship, a train or the like or on a stationary structure such as residential or commercial buildings. The amount of space necessary on the wall surface 102 may vary depending on the dimensions of the awning 10 and what might not be typically considered a wall surface 102 on the structure 100 may provide sufficient space for mounting of the awning 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, the awning 10 may have an elongate tube-like shape in a fully retracted or stowed state. The exterior of the awning 10 may be defined by a housing which may include a top cover 12, a rack 14 (FIG. 2), end covers 16, and a front cover 18. The awning 10 may be secured to the wall surface 102 by the rack 14 through means known in the art such as screws, bolts and nuts, glue, hooks or the like. A canopy 20 may be wound about a roller (not shown) located inside the awning 10 and may be extended or retracted by way of a plurality of arms 22 (shown in phantom) that can become stowed inside the awning 10. The awning 10 may include a mechanism for automatically winding the canopy 20 about the roller upon retraction of the arms 22.

The front cover 18 of the awning 10 may be configured to extend along a distal edge 24 of the canopy 20 while a proximal edge 26 of the canopy 20 is affixed to the roller (FIG. 1). The arms 22 support the canopy 20 and may be configured to extend and retract from the awning 10 using a variety of mechanisms known in the art. In this embodiment, each arm 22 includes two segments 30 pivotally connected at a joint 32 located at the midpoint of the arm 22 such that each arm 22 can be folded in half. For example, a motor (not shown) may be located at the joint 32 and may cause extension or retraction of the arms 22 by changing a direction of rotation.

The refraction and extension of the canopy 20 can be controlled primarily by the movement of the arms 22. Each arm 22 includes a distal end 22 a and a proximal end 22 b. For example, the distal ends 22 a of the arms 22 may be connected to the front cover 18 such that, as the arms 22 extend or retract, the canopy 20 is unwound or wound about the roller. As shown in FIG. 2, the proximal end 22 b of each arm 22 may be connected to a shoulder 34 that can be mounted on the rack 14 and that allows the orientation of the arms 22 to be adjusted in a variety of ways as will be described below. It may be possible to connect only some of the proximal ends 22 b of the arms 22 to the rack 14 using the shoulder 34 described herein. The rack 14 may include a rail 28 (FIG. 2) and the shoulder 34 may be affixed at any location along the rail 28. The rack 14 may also provide a channel 15 in which the arms 22 can be placed in a stowed position of the awning 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shoulder 34 may include a junction portion 36, a bracket portion 38 and a base portion 40 which may be assembled to one another with screws or the like. It must be noted that other embodiments of the shoulder 34 may not include all of the junction portion 36, the bracket portion 38 and the base portion 40.

The junction portion 36 may provide a hinge 42 at one of its longitudinal ends for connecting the proximal end 22 b of the arm 22 and the arm 22 may thus be rotatable about a third axis 44 that is substantially upright but slightly tilted from vertical. Moreover, the junction portion 36 of the shoulder 34 may be rotatably adjustable so as to allow the pitch of the arms 22 to be adjusted. In this regard, a front interface of the bracket portion 38 may include a first curved surface 46 while a rear interface of the junction portion 36 may include a second curved surface 48 that is shaped to correspond to the first curved surface 46. The first curved surface 46 may be a cylindrical concave surface while the second curved surface 48 may be a cylindrical convex surface. One of the first curved surface 46 and the second curved surface 48 may include one or more elongate beads 50 (FIG. 7A) while the other of the first curved surface 46 and the second curved surface 48 may include a set of grooves 52 in which the elongate beads 50 can fit (FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 6, depending on the groove or grooves 52 in which the elongate bead or beads 50 are located in, the orientation of the junction portion 36 relative to the bracket portion 38 will differ and rotatable adjustment of the junction portion 36 with respect to the bracket portion 38 becomes possible. The embodiment of FIG. 4 includes two elongate beads 50 and four grooves 52 thus allowing the junction portion 36 to assume three orientations about the bracket portion 38. Although not shown, an alternative embodiment of the junction portion 36 including one elongate bead 50 and four or more grooves 52 would allow the junction portion 36 to assume four or more orientations about the bracket portion 38.

The term “rotatable” is meant to describe that an object can be moved around an axis from a first point located at a given distance from the axis to a second point at the same distance from the axis and that the object moves through all points between the first point and the second point located at the same distance from the axis in order to move from the first point to the second point. The term “rotatably adjustable”, “rotatably adjusted” or “rotatable adjustment” is meant to describe that an object can be moved around an axis from a first point located at a given distance from the axis to a second point at the same distance from the axis but that the object does not move through all points between the first point and the second point located at the same distance from the axis in order to move from the first point to the second point.

The junction portion 36 can be described as being movable or rotatably adjustable because, at the different orientations assumed by the junction portion 36, the junction portion 36 is located at equal distances from a first axis 54 (FIG. 6) extending longitudinally about the junction portion 36. However, the junction portion 36 is not rotatable about the first axis 54 because such movement is not possible with a bead 50 inside one of the grooves 52.

The shoulder 34 is provided with a mechanism to allow the junction portion 36 to remain at an assumed orientation. As shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, the shoulder 34 may include a recess 56 on its front interface opposite the second curved surface 48 and a fastening component 58 that can be inserted therein. For example, the recess 56 may be substantially semi-cylindrical and the fastening component 58 may include a curved rear surface 59 a and a flat front surface 59 b (FIGS. 7A-7B). The inner perimeter of the recess 56 may correspond in shape to the outer perimeter of the fastening component 58 and the fastening component 58 may be perimetrically dimensioned to be at least partially insertable inside the recess 56. In this embodiment, the perimeter of the fastening component 58 is rectangular and at least the two longer edges of the rectangular perimeter of the fastening component 58 are in contact with the inner surfaces of the recess 56 when the fastening component 58 is secured to the junction portion 36. Moreover, the fastening component 58 may include a set of first holes 58 a and the junction portion 36 may include a set of second holes 36 a. Both the first holes 58 a and the second holes 36 a may be through holes. A set of first screws 60 may be inserted through the first holes 58 a and the second holes 36 a and into blind holes 62 formed on the first curved surface 46. The second holes 36 a have elongate cross-section and are oriented to extend transversely about the elongate bead 50 (FIG. 7A) and the first screws 60 are insertable along any part of the second holes 36 a. As a result, the orientation of the junction portion 36 can be rotatably adjusted about the first axis 54 when the first screws 60 are loosened and the junction portion 36 can be secured against the bracket portion 38 by tightening the first screws 60. The rotatable adjustment of the junction portion 36 can change the pitch angle of the arms 22 when the awning 10 is extended.

Furthermore, the shoulder 34 may be mounted to the rail 28 through the base portion 40 and the location of the shoulder 34 may be altered along the rail 28 by sliding, for example. A rear interface of the base portion 40 may be shaped correspondingly with the rail 28 such that the base portion 40 can be secured to the rail 28. In this embodiment, the rear interface of the base portion 40 includes a part with a C-shaped cross-section 64 that can grip and move along the rail 28 (FIG. 6). The base portion 40 may include through holes 40 a (FIG. 5) at its bottom such that the location of the base portion 40 can be fixed by way of screws 41 that can press against the rail 28 once inserted fully (FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 6, the bracket portion 38 may be supported from underneath by the base portion 40. The base portion 40 may include a front interface with a stepped configuration and the bracket portion 38 may include a rear interface with a stepped configuration 66 a corresponding to the stepped configuration 66 b of the base portion 40 such that the bracket portion 38 can rest on the base portion 40 and be supported from underneath. Moreover, the bracket portion 38 may be configured to be rotatably adjustable about the base portion 40. For example, the bracket portion 38 may include a set of through holes extending through the bracket portion 38. These through holes may include a third hole 38 a with a circular cross-section and a fourth hole 38 b with an elongate cross-section (FIG. 4). The third hole 38 a may be located on the opposite end of the hinge 42. A set of second screws 66 may be inserted through the third hole 38 a and the fourth hole 38 b and into blind holes 68 formed on the base portion 40 to secure the bracket portion 38 about the base portion 40. Both the third hole 38 a and the fourth hole 38 b may include a recess portion 38 c (FIG. 4) in which the head of the second screws 66 can be inserted. At the bottom of each of the recess portions 38 c, a flange 38 d (FIG. 4) against which the head of the second screw 66 can abut may be provided. When the second screws 66 in the third hole 38 a and the fourth hole 38 b are loosened, the bracket portion 38 can rotate about a second axis 70 extending through the third hole 38 a while the unfilled part of the fourth hole 38 b, due to its elongate cross-section, may allow the bracket portion 38 to be rotatably adjusted about the base portion 40. In this embodiment, the second axis 70 is substantially horizontal and is oriented to be perpendicular to the plane of interface of the base portion 40 and the bracket portion 38. The screws 66 in the third and fourth holes 38 a, 38 b can be re-tightened after the bracket portion 38 is rotatably adjusted. The adjustment of the bracket portion 38 about the second axis 70 can be conducted by an adjustment feature provided at the bottom of the base portion 40. The adjustment feature may include an adjustment hole 72 (FIG. 5) and an adjustment screw 74 (FIG. 3) inserted therein. The adjustment hole 72 may be a threaded through hole. The end of the adjustment screw 74 opposite its head may be configured to push against a point that is located longitudinally midway on the bracket portion 38 such that tightening of the screw 66 pushes the bracket portion 38 upward thereby resulting in counterclockwise rotation of the bracket portion 38 in FIG. 4. Alternatively, loosening of the screw 66 brings the intermediate part of the bracket portion 38 downward thereby resulting in clockwise rotation of the bracket portion 38 in FIG. 4. Of course, the adjustment screw 74 would be easier to operate when the second screws 66 are loosened.

The above-described features of the shoulder 34 allow the orientation of the arm 22 to be adjusted in a variety of ways. Rotatable adjustment of the shoulder 34 about the first axis 54 allows the pitch of the arm 22 to be adjusted in an extended state of the arm 22. Moreover, in the embodiment described herein, it is possible that the full retraction of the arm 22 does not bring the entirety of the arm 22 in a completely horizontal state so as to allow stowing of the arm 22 within the channel 15 provided in the rack 14 and this start to occur after extended use of the arm 22. In such a situation, it is necessary to re-orient the arm 22 to be horizontal and the ability to rotatably adjust the arm 22 about the second axis 70 can help resolve such an issue.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An awning mounted on a wall surface, the awning including: a rack; a canopy; a plurality of arms configured to support the canopy, each of the arms including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of each of the arms configured to move to and from the rack so as to retract and extend the canopy; and a shoulder configured to connect at least one of the proximal ends of the arms to the rack, the shoulder including a bracket portion and a junction portion, the bracket portion including a first curved surface, the junction portion including a second curved surface shaped to correspond to the first curved surface, the first curved surface including one of an elongate bead or a set of grooves, the second curved surface including the other of the elongate bead or the set of grooves, the elongate bead configured to fit within at least two of the grooves thereby allowing the junction portion to assume at least two orientations with respect to the bracket portion such that the junction portion is movably adjustable around a first axis.
 2. The awning of claim 1, wherein the first curved surface is a cylindrical concave surface and the second curved surface is a cylindrical convex surface.
 3. The awning of claim 1, the shoulder further including a fastening component configured to secure the junction portion against the bracket portion so as to maintain the junction portion in the at least two orientations.
 4. The awning of claim 3, the junction portion including a recess opposite the second curved surface, the fastening component perimetrically dimensioned so to be at least partially insertable inside the recess.
 5. The awning of claim 4, the recess being substantially semi-cylindrical in shape, the fastening component being perimetrically rectangular.
 6. The awning of claim 3, a set of first holes extending through the fastening component, a set of second holes extending through the junction portion, a set of first screws configured to extend through the first holes and the second holes and into the bracket portion.
 7. The awning of claim 6, the set of second holes having an elongate cross-section and oriented to extend transversely with respect to the elongate bead, the first screws being insertable along any part of the second holes.
 8. The awning of claim 6, the junction portion capable of changing orientation around the first axis upon loosening of the first screws.
 9. The awning of claim 1, the shoulder configured such that the bracket portion is rotatably adjustable about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
 10. The awning of claim 9, the shoulder further including a base portion on which the bracket portion is movably mounted, the base portion configured to support the bracket portion from underneath.
 11. The awning of claim 10, the bracket portion including a third hole with a circular cross-section and a fourth hole with an elongate cross-section extending through the bracket portion, a set of second screws configured to be inserted through the third hole and the fourth hole and into the base portion thereby securing the bracket portion about the base portion, the second axis extending through a center of the third hole.
 12. The awning of claim 10, the base portion including an adjustment hole threaded to accommodate an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw configured to control a degree to which the bracket portion is rotatably adjusted around the second axis.
 13. The awning of claim 11, the junction portion including a hinge at a longitudinal end located opposite the third hole, the arm being rotatable around a third axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
 14. The awning of claim 1, the rack including a channel in which the arm corresponding to the shoulder can be stowed, the arm extending substantially parallel to the first axis in a stowed position of the awning.
 15. The awning of claim 14, the arm being bendable at an intermediate portion so as to bring the awning to the stowed position.
 16. The awning of claim 1, the shoulder configured to be affixed at various positions along the rack.
 17. An awning mounted on a wall surface, the awning including: a rack; a canopy; a plurality of arms configured to support the canopy, each of the arms including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of each of the arms configured to move to and from the rack so as to retract and extend the canopy; and a shoulder configured to connect at least one of the proximal ends of the arms to the rack, the shoulder including a base portion and a bracket portion supported from underneath by the base portion, the bracket portion being rotatably adjustable with respect to the base portion about a second axis extending perpendicularly about a plane of interface of the bracket portion and the base portion.
 18. The awning of claim 17, the base portion including an adjustment hole threaded to accommodate an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw configured to control a degree to which the bracket portion is rotatably adjusted around the second axis.
 19. The awning of claim 17, the bracket portion including a third hole with a circular cross-section and a fourth hole with an elongate cross-section extending through the bracket portion, a set of second screws configured to be inserted through the third hole and the fourth hole and into the base portion thereby securing the bracket portion about the base portion, the second axis extending through a center of the third hole, the bracket portion being rotatably adjustable about the base portion upon loosening of the second screws. 